Ozan O. Varol is a rocket scientist turned award-winning law professor and author. He was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, and came to the United States to attend Cornell University, where he served on the operations team for the 2003 Mars Exploration Rovers mission. Varol received his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law, where he graduated first in his class. He is currently a tenured law professor at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon.

"The book is very well researched and rich in anecdotes. Highly recommended." - CHOICE

"Varol draws on a wide range of examples to provide a nuanced account of how military interventions in politics can sometimes promote democracy-and why they often do not." - Mark Tushnet, Harvard Law School

"A democratic tour d'force! In this timely, beautifully written, and forcefully argued book, Varol challenges conventional wisdom about the role of the military in democratization. Whether one agrees or not, this is an argument that we will have to wrestle with again and again." - Tom Ginsburg, University of Chicago Law School

"As recent years have shown, the preservation of liberal democracy can never be taken for granted. Varol challenges democratic theorists and citizens alike to ask what price we are willing to pay and what risks we should be willing to run to sustain liberal democracy." - Richard H. Pildes, New York University School of Law

"The Democratic Coup d'État constructs a provocative but nuanced account of how military coups can sometimes launch a democratization process and the varied roles played by the military during transitions from authoritarian rule." --David E. Landau, Florida State University College of Law

"Through an impressive exploration of transitional events such as Julius Caesar's assassination, the Glorious Revolution, the Turkish War of Independence, and the Arab Spring, Varol shows how coup makers can bring about democratic change. The Democratic Coup d'État is a must-read for those interested in democratic transitions." --Mila Versteeg, University of Virginia School of Law